Day 1 of 3 days Devotional.

The greatest truth you can ever know about God (next to hearing and receiving the message of salvation) is His sovereignty. Because when you know that God is in control—even of those things that appear to be out of control—you are able to move through life benefiting from the blessings of assurance, peace and self-control. When you truly understand that He is in your corner as your greatest defender and vindicator, you will no longer seek to rescue yourself. It is only in drawing close to Him in such a way that you can hear Him and, as a result, follow Him that you will experience His deliverance in every area of your life.

Far too often, when we face a trial or adverse situation in life, we try to figure it out, fix it, logically argue our way through it and more. Yet there is no logic or reason to having the Egyptians chase the Israelites into the separated waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:27-28). That is not a solution Moses could have contrived on his own. That is not a strategy any military general would have put into play.

Similarly, when you or I rely too much on our own reasoning, we leave ourselves vulnerable to what that reasoning will produce, rather than setting ourselves up for God’s intervention instead.

God is in control.

And in case you read over that line too quickly, let me write it one more time: God is in control. It doesn’t matter how things appear to you right now. It doesn’t matter what authority you feel your boss has over you right now. It doesn’t matter what that addiction is telling you to do, or that mate, or that mess you have found yourself in. None of those people or situations are in ultimate control.

Yes, they may look like they are. After all, Pharaoh had every appearance of control over the Israelites. Even as his army chased them across the wilderness and backed them up against an enormous body of water, no one knew how they would go around. But what you see is never all there is to be seen. Sovereignty shapes water differently and sets souls free. Providence paves a way where there seems to be no way at all. Sovereignty roars its authority so loudly that even your greatest threats must cower beneath the blast of its breath.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/2co.12.9.KJV

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1847426318735737&id=1339965909481783&sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=e

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160094898443009&id=808538008&sfnsn=mo&d=n&vh=e

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.1.31.KJV

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/gen.1.27.KJV

Day 14 of 14 Joy Filled Days with God. Last devotional of this series.

After God had created the world and man, He looked at what He had made and it was very good (see Genesis 1:31). God made you in His image to be His representative here on earth. Yet there are very few people who are happy with how they look and who they are.

Most people strive continuously to be more beautiful, more popular, thinner, and richer. Yet Jesus said that the one command equal to “love the Lord your God with all your heart” is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” If you are satisfied with yourself, you will succeed in being able to love yourself and only then will you know how God wants you to love other people. 

Make it your task to accept yourself unconditionally with your strong and weak points. Work on the negative things in your life that you can change and make peace with the rest. Remember: God made you the way you are. Stop comparing yourself to other people and being unhappy because you think you are not as good or as pretty as they are.

Concentrate on your good qualities and forget the negative ones. From today you are going to be happy because you are the image bearer and representative of God Himself.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being so dissatisfied with myself. Help me to accept myself unconditionally as Your image bearer and representative. Amen.

The content for this devotional was taken from: “Where Hope Blossoms” by Nina Smit ©Christian Art Publishers.